This post is the second entry in our series on Tips to Know Before Meeting Your Broker in 2014. The series is based on our experiences shadowing several rental brokers in New York in late 2013. We learned a lot about the best – and worst – ways to work with brokers.
Tip #2: Work with the Right Expert
A great broker tirelessly applies his expertise to the thousands of new listings that go up in this city every day. A lousy one just wants to push you into an apartment ASAP and collect a check. But to win at the apartment search, you have to do more than weed through the scammers to find a legitimate broker; you have to find the right expert for you. Most brokers will gladly help you with any kind of search, but the truth is they aren’t experts on everything—most have specialties. They might work best in particular neighborhoods, price ranges, or setups. (For example, a broker might do most of his business in 2-bedrooms in the 3-4k range). If you’re looking for a budget studio in the East Village, even the most esteemed luxury expert isn’t the right fit for you.
We can help you find a great expert!
Our next tip: if you’re going to do it, do it — commit to the process of working with your broker. Want to play spoiler? Go see the whole list of tips!
